Part of Opto 22's S-series family of industrial controllers, the SNAP-PAC-S2 is fully integrated with PAC Project software, SNAP PAC brains, and SNAP I/O modules to form a complete control system. The SNAP PAC System includes digital and analog control, serial string handling, PID loops, and enterprise connectivity.

Programming
The SNAP-PAC-S2 is programmed using the included PAC Control software. PAC Control is a flowchart-based tool for developing control applications, or strategies. You create and debug the strategy on your computer and then download it to the PAC, where it runs independently.

REST API: All I/O point and strategy variable data is available for secure access using the built-in HTTPS server and RESTful API, with data delivered in JSON format. For complete API documentation and steps for getting started, see developer.opto22.com. In addition, two Node-RED nodes are available. Note that minimum firmware R9.5a and PAC Project R9.5a are required to use the REST API.

You can build full-featured operator interfaces (HMIs) using the included PAC Display software, which taps the same tagname database you've already developed in PAC Control. OR take advantage of Opto 22's groov to quickly build and view HMIs you can use on virtually any computer, tablet, or smartphone—any screen size, from any manufacturer—using just a modern web browser (like Firefox or Chrome). Learn more at groov.com.

Networking
The controller is compact and industrially hardened. It includes two independent Ethernet network interfaces with separate IP addresses, which can be used to segment the control network from the company network or for redundant Ethernet links. You can also set up a system with redundant controllers using two identical S-series controllers, the SNAP PAC Redundancy Option Kit, and PAC Project Professional 9.0.

The SNAP-PAC-S2 controller is well suited for use with serial-based I/O units and serial devices. The SNAP-PAC-S2 has four serial ports that can be individually configured as either RS-232 or RS-485 (2-wire or 4-wire). Configured as RS-232, serial ports support serial device communication or a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) modem connection for creating a TCP/IP network over PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) lines. Configured as RS-485, serial ports connect to SNAP PAC Serial brains or to legacy Opto 22 mistic™ I/O units, including the serial B3000 brain and remote mistic bricks. (Note: If you are using the S2 with misticI/O units, use the legacy versions of the PAC Control, PAC Display, and PAC Manager guides.)

The SNAP-PAC-S2 can be panel or DIN-rail mounted. For DIN rail, see the SNAP-S2DIN DIN-rail mounting kit.

If you need a similar PAC that also communicates wirelessly, see the SNAP-PAC-S2-W.

(Models with
manufacture dates of June 2014 and newer. Requires firmware R9.4a or
higher and loader R6.1a or higher) MicroSD card slot: supports microSD
or microSDHC cards to 32 GB.
(Models with manufacture dates of November 2008 through May 2014 with
firmware R8.4 or higher) McroSD card slot: supports microSD cards up
to 2 GB.

SNAP-PAC-S2
Four serial ports that can be used as general purpose ports or for serial
I/O units; each port is software configurable as either RS-232 (Tx, Rx,
COM, DTR, DCD, RTS, CTS) or as RS-485 (2-wire, 4-wire, optional termination,
optional biasing); optional mistic signal interrupts. Buffer size:
512 bytes each for RX and TX.

This user's guide shows you how to install and use Opto 22's SNAP PAC S-series programmable automation controllers. SNAP PAC S-series controllers are one of four components of the SNAP PAC System. These controllers work with PAC Project software, SNAP PAC brains, and SNAP I/O modules to form an easy-to-use system for remote monitoring, industrial control, and data acquisition.

SNAP PAC controllers are programmed with PAC Control Basic or PAC Control Professional, Opto 22's flowchart-based development software, which is part of the PAC Project software suite.

Toyo Tanso USA manufactures a fine grade of graphite called isotropic graphite, and the company also provides graphite-related silicon carbide surface treatments to customers.

The batch automation process systems used to perform these surface treatments are in a busy, tough industrial setting. The multiple vessels involved in the process each require different specializations and careful management.

To control the vessels, Toyo Tanso needed a rugged control system with plenty of I/O options—and one that could be easily programmed and deployed.

Networking can be a complex subject. This guide tries to reduce the complexity by providing guidelines for how you might set up communications between your computer or mobile device and your SNAP PAC control system, including groov.

The goal is for you to be able to monitor and control your system from anywhere you need to, either inside your facility or outside it. It's possible to do this because Opto 22 control systems are built on standard protocols such as TCP and UDP over IP, which are the same protocols used by off-the-shelf computers, routers, and the Internet.

This guide shows you how to communicate with Opto 22’s SNAP PAC controllers and groov using wired Ethernet networks and wireless LANs, both within your facility and over the Internet.

This guide provides instructions on how to set up EtherNet/IP messaging between an Allen-Bradley® Logix™ controller and Opto 22’s SNAP PAC I/O using Opto 22’s EtherNet/IP Configurator as well as Allen-Bradley’s RSLogix™ 5000 software.

This guide is a comprehensive introduction to the SNAP PAC System. The guide describes the system's four components (software, controllers, brains, and I/O); shows how to build a basic system and how to expand it; and includes installation instructions, wiring diagrams, dimensional drawings, and specifications for parts.

This white paper compares programmable automation controllers (PACs) with other automation technologies and suggests several considerations to keep in mind when choosing PACs for your industrial control or monitoring application.

You've probably heard about the Internet of Things (IoT). But what is it, and how will it affect our businesses?

This primer helps you understand the IoT and the significant challenges we face to realize its benefits.

The primer defines operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT), and shows how they are converging and why. It defines IoT technologies and suggests 3 steps you can take to develop an effective and profitable IoT strategy.

Successful Internet of Things (IoT) applications send data from systems that monitor and control the physical world to information technology (IT) data processing systems. There the data can be analyzed and the results used to improve business capabilities: better inventory management, better predictive maintenance, reduced asset downtime, and much more.

But first we need to solve 3 problems: how to connect the physical world to the IT world, how to handle the huge masses of data that physical systems produce, and how to efficiently structure the IoT.

This white paper explores these problems and how edge computing can help solve them.

The Sotavento Virtual Power Plant in Galicia, Spain, is a "green" power utility with an annual production of approximately 38,500 MWh. The plant uses alternative fuels, specifically wind power, supplemented by hydrogen. At the Sotavento plant, Opto 22's SNAP PAC System provides a solution for not only automation and control, but also data acquisition, enterprise connectivity, and communication to databases.

Systems integrator Optomation Systems designed an integrated supervisory system for the Sotavento site, based on the Opto 22 SNAP PAC System platform. Utilizing a mix of analog and digital I/O connections, standalone and rack-mounted SNAP PACs connect to electrolyzers, motor generator units, and other plant systems and communicate with this equipment as well as with the plant's legacy SCADA systems. Disparate machinery and instrumentation from vendors such as Hydrogenics, Emerson, and Bauer Compressors are linked to the Opto controllers, which communicate using a variety of industrial protocols, such as Profibus and Modbus. The controllers also aggregate all data and serve it to Sotavento databases for analysis and archiving.

In recent years, environmental benefits, improvements in automotive engine design, and the lower production cost of natural gas (compared to heavy diesel fuel) have made use of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) more attractive and cost feasible—particularly for public transportation. One of the other advantages of NGVs is that they can be refueled simply by tapping into existing natural gas lines. The Madrid city government has invested $47
million dollars in a custom refueling station and parking depot for 300 natural gas powered buses in the Sanchinarro area of Madrid.
An Ethernet-based industrial automation, data acquisition, and communications system—based on Opto 22’s SNAP PAC platform and implemented by Spanish integrator Optomation Systems—serves as the communications backbone that keeps the Sanchinarro station operating efficiently. The system employs a number of industrial and IT protocols, including FTP, SNMP, OPC, Modbus/TCP, and M-Bus to communicate more than 600 different data values to and from the Sanchinarro station’s equipment, systems, and external databases.

The Sotavento Virtual Power Plant in Galicia, Spain, is a "green" power utility with an annual production of approximately 38,500 MWh. The plant uses alternative fuels, specifically wind power, supplemented by hydrogen. At the Sotavento plant, Opto 22's SNAP PAC System provides a solution for not only automation and control, but also data acquisition, enterprise connectivity, and communication to databases.

Systems integrator Optomation Systems designed an integrated supervisory system for the Sotavento site, based on the Opto 22 SNAP PAC System platform. Utilizing a mix of analog and digital I/O connections, standalone and rack-mounted SNAP PACs connect to electrolyzers, motor generator units, and other plant systems and communicate with this equipment as well as with the plant's legacy SCADA systems. Disparate machinery and instrumentation from vendors such as Hydrogenics, Emerson, and Bauer Compressors are linked to the Opto controllers, which communicate using a variety of industrial protocols, such as Profibus and Modbus. The controllers also aggregate all data and serve it to Sotavento databases for analysis and archiving.

This document shows you how to set up communication between Ethernet-based Modbus systems (using Modbus/TCP) and the SNAP PAC System. In addition to the SNAP PAC System (SNAP PAC S-series and R-series controllers and SNAP PAC brains), the guide also covers Modbus/TCP communication with older Opto 22 Ethernet-based devices, including SNAP Ethernet, SNAP Simple, and SNAP Ultimate I/O; and E1 and E2 brain boards.

This technical note shows how SNAP PAC memory, both volatile and non-volatile, is used. It compares memory available in the standalone SNAP PAC S-series, on-the-rack SNAP PAC R-series, and software-based SoftPAC controllers, and it also shows differences between wired Ethernet PACs and Wired+Wireless™ PACs.

We’ve all heard about the Internet of Things (IoT) and its promises: bringing useful data directly to people who make business decisions, and enabling machines to communicate with each other and make decisions for human benefit.

But how does the IoT actually work? How does the data get from inside these machines to computer networks where we can use it?

This technical paper describes that pathway for IT (information technology) professionals, explaining how physical "things" communicate, what kinds of data in them might be useful, and the current barriers to getting that data—especially from existing sensors and devices that have no IoT capabilities built in.

The paper also describes a new method to cut through those barriers and achieve the IoT results you want now.

We’ve all heard about the Internet of Things (IoT) and its promises: bringing useful data directly to people who make business decisions, and enabling machines to communicate with each other and make decisions for human benefit.

But how does the IoT actually work? How does the data get from inside these physical "things" to computer networks where it can be used?

This technical paper describes that pathway for OT (operational technology) professionals—automation professionals. It describes the kinds of data you may be asked to provide and why. It explains how data from physical "things"—especially existing sensors and actuators that have no IoT capabilities built in—can be securely communicated to company computer networks, without disturbing control networks.

The paper also explains concepts important to any IoT strategy, like encryption and authentication, and introduces a new method to achieve the IoT results you need now, without requiring a complex chain of conversion hardware and software.

This technical note introduces the Modbus protocol and gives you basic information for using it to communicate between Opto 22 products and other devices. Because Modbus and Modbus/TCP are handled differently by various manufacturers, the tech note describes specific areas that may be a concern and includes troubleshooting suggestions.

This download contains special firmware for the SNAP PAC S-Series controllers that upgrades the controller bootloader (or "loader").

The R6.1b loader is now available on the Opto 22 website. This loader upgrades newer SNAP PAC controllers to use high-capacity microSDHC cards. New SNAP PAC R9.4a firmware must also be installed with the R6.1b loader to obtain microSDHC card support.

This software application updates the internal clock for an Ethernet-connected Opto 22 controller. The application runs in Windows at the command prompt, and can update controller clocks regularly or just once.

OptoTagPreserve copies variables from your PAC Control strategy running on a SNAP PAC controller and saves them in a password-protected binary file or a plain-text XML, OptoScript, or init.txt file.

The primary reason you would use this utility is to make it easier to preserve variable states when you need to update firmware on the controller. Updating firmware erases battery-backed data including persistent variables and variables initialized on strategy download. Use OptoTagPreserve before loading new firmware to archive tag values to the computer, and then restore them after firmware is loaded and the strategy has been downloaded.

IMPORTANT:- Make sure the strategy is stopped before restoring tag values. If the strategy is running, unexpectedly changing values can cause unpredictable results with strategy operation.- Writing to a plain-text file requires that the strategy contain a special variable allowing plain text.

See the technical note included in the download for complete information on using the utility.